The Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticised the fees paid to water-board leaders.

According to the DA during the 2023/24 period, the chair of uMngeni-uThukela was paid R109 500 per meeting while other members received R54 000. Similar payouts were recorded across other water entities, such as R120 300 to the chair of the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, and R103 600, R77 833, and R70 831 for the chairs of Lepelle Northern Water, Amatola Water, and Magalies Water respectively.

The party has demanded transparency over these payments, calling on the Department of Water & Sanitation to disclose board fee policies, attendance records, and total expenditures for the 2023/24 financial year.

The DA wants National Treasury and the Auditor-General to conduct an independent benchmarking of these remunerations, and to report findings to Parliament. It also wants board remuneration tied to measurable performance indicators, such as governance stability, clean audits, reductions in non-revenue water, improved collections, and infrastructure recovery. The party additionally proposed temporary fee reductions at financially distressed entities until service delivery rebounds.